The Workers: Central America 2016

In the rural areas of Central America manual labor is still king. Many of the workers harvest crops or tend to cattle for a very small wage. They fight the harsh weather of hot and humid temperatures. In some areas they’re a mysterious epidemic that has been recorded. It’s a disease that affects the kidneys of workers who work long days in hot weather were little clean drinking water is available. This collection of photos does not address a disease, but they are samples of hard work in a tough environment.

A man stacks bananas during the harvest in Las, Vegas, Nicaragua.

A man stacks bananas during the harvest in Las, Vegas, Nicaragua.

A young man carries trash looking for anything he can sell at the Tegucigalpa, Honduras landfill. The landfill has about 2000 people who harvest recyclables everyday. Many of these people are young children who dig in a mountain of trash for plastic or cardboard and most of the families here make about $5 U.S. dollars a day.

A young man carries trash looking for anything he can sell at the Tegucigalpa, Honduras landfill. The landfill has about 2000 people who harvest recyclables everyday. Many of these people are young children who dig in a mountain of trash for plastic or cardboard and most of the families here make about $5 U.S. dollars a week.

A man with a pack of dogs walks through trash looking for anything he can sell at the Tegucigalpa, Honduras landfill. The landfill has about 2000 people who harvest recyclables everyday. Many of these people are young children who dig in a mountain of trash for plastic or cardboard and most of the families here make about $5 U.S. dollars a week.

Harvesting Kings Grass near Teupasenti, Honduras. The grass is used to feed the cows and also as a fuel.

A man holding a bale during the Harvest of Kings Grass near Teupasenti, Honduras. The grass is used to feed the cows and also as a fuel.

A man holding a puppy during the Harvest of Kings Grass near Teupasenti, Honduras. The grass is used to feed the cows and also as a fuel.

Harvesting Kings Grass near Teupasenti, Honduras. The grass is used to feed the cows and also as a fuel.

Workers ride in a wagon after harvestingf Kings Grass near Teupasenti, Honduras. The grass is used to feed the cows and also as a fuel.

Over 300 men, women, and children were harvesting tomatoes near Villa Santa, Honduras. Each basket picked earned the worker 5 lempira Honduran. That’s .22 cents per basket in American money.

Over 300 men, women, and children were harvesting tomatoes near Villa Santa, Honduras. Each basket picked earned the worker 5 lempira Honduran. That’s .22 cents per basket in American money.